Holster

ABSTRACT

A holster is provided having an adjustable belt loop which includes a belt flap and an adjustable flexible belt strap adjustably interengageable with the flap through a slot formed in the flap. Fastening means is provided for releasably securing the belt strap in a selected position to thereby fix the adjusted belt loop size for a given belt.

United States Patent lnventor Filed Patented Assignee Appl. No.

HOLSTER Albert J. Kippen Frederick, Md.

Mar. 29, 1968 Feb. 23, 1971 J. M. Bucheimer Company Frederick, Md.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs. US. Cl.....

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 842,038 1/1907 Wallerstedt 224/26( .3) 1,088,406 2/1914 Davis 224/5(.2) 3,197,098 7/1965 Clark 224/2(.2) 1,281,299 10/1918 Crosson.... 224/26(.1)X 2,117,937 5/1938 Brownell 224/3 3,032,244 5/1962 Zeabari 224/5(.2)

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerFrank E. Werner Attorney-Reginald R. Pippin, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A holster is provided having an adjustable belt loop which includes a belt flap and an adjustable flexible belt strap adjustably interengageable with the flap through a slot formed in the flap. Fastening means is provided for releasably securing the belt strap in a selected position to thereby fix the adjusted belt loop size for a given belt.

SHEET 1 BF 3 FlG.l

Albert J. Klppen INVENTOR w j w ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEB23IQ7I Q I 33555303 SHEET 2 [1F 3 Albert J.Kippen INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATEHTED FEB23197I 3; 565.303

SHEET 3 [IF 3 Albert J Ki ppen INVENTOR W WW ATTORNEY HOLSTER This invention relates to holsters for articles such as pistols and revolvers or other weapons, or the like, and more particularly to a holster having an adjustable belt loop arrangement.

In the mounting of holsters ona belt it is conventional to employ a belt loop or other attachment device. Most such belt loop arrangements leave much to be desired in providing a good fit for belts of various widths, and holsters have generally been quite wobbly on the belt. Law ofiicers and others often experience difficulty in sitting while wearing a holster, due in some measure to the sloppy belt attachment, as the holster shifts from front to back on the belt and becomes quite uncomfortable. In addition, when the pistol or other weapon is drawn from the holster, a sloppy fit or attachment to the belt enables the holster to rise on the belt with the pistol asit is being drawn, thus making for a difficult and awkward draw, with increased hazard to the user. While some attempts have been made to provide adjustable belt attachment devices, none to my knowledge have been entirely satisfactory.

It is accordingly a major feature of this invention to provide a holster having an adjustable belt loop arrangement which is effective to provide a good fit to various sized belts and which is simple and easy to use. 7

Still another feature is the provision of an adjustable belt loop attachment arrangement for holsters or the like in which the belt engaging loop may be formed in its entirety of leather or other soft flexible sheet material asmay be desired.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred illustrative embodiment constructed in accordance with the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of .a holster according to the invention, as viewed from the inner or body-engaging face of the holster, illustrating the assembly and adjustment of the holster on a belt.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the holster in locked adjusted position for desired fit on a belt.

FIG. 3 illustrates the holster in locked adjusted position similar to FIG. 2, as viewed from the outer face ofthe illustrative holster.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevation view of the embodiment, in position on a small width belt.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holster, with the belt loop elements disengaged and unfolded for clarity of illustration.

Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawing, in the illustrative embodiment holster 11 having a body 13 forming pocket 13a for receiving and holding a weapon such as a pistol, may be formed in any suitable manner as by stitching 15 about the folded periphery of a blank of leather of desired shape and size, which may be formed to desired contour shape in accordance with conventional leather working techniques. The pocket is conventionally open at the top and the holster may be provided with a safety strap 17, if desired, aiding in retaining the pistol in the pocket during normal carrying. Safety strap 17 may be secured to the body 13 as by a rivet 19, as shown, or by other suitable means such as stitching, and passes through a slot 21 formed in the rear wall of body 13 to facilitate releasable attachment to the outer face of the holster body 13 as by a snap fastener 23.

Extending from the rear face of the holster body 13 and formed integral therewith is a belt flap 31 "which may have a preformed fold or bend line as indicated at33. While an integral belt flap 31 is illustrated and is preferred it will be appreciated that the belt flap may be a separate piece which may be sewn, riveted or otherwise secured to the holster body 13. Belt flap 31 may be provided with a strap 35 secured thereto as by rivets or brads 37, for releasably embracing and securing the holster body 13 against the belt flap 31, the strap 35 having complementary snap fastener elements 39a, 39b for this purpose.

The holster is removably attached to the waist belt B of a person through the medium of an adjustable belt loop, which is formed by belt flap 31, the rear wall of body 13, and an adjustable belt strap 41. Belt strap 41 is suitably secured at one end to the rear wall of holster pocket body 13, being in the illustrated embodiment advantageously secured thereto by the same rivet 19 or stitching as secures the safety strap 17 to the body 13.

Adjustable belt strap 41 is preferably secured with its free end extending downward away from the interconnecting belt loop fold 33. A transverse slot 43 is formed in belt flap 31 and lies approximately in vertical alignment with the rivet connection 19 for strap 41. In assembling and securing the holster to a belt B, the adjustable belt strap is looped upward and is passed through slot 43 in belt flap 31, as generally illustrated in FIG. 1, and is drawn up through the slot 31 to achieve the desired fit about thebelt B. In the illustrative embodiment employing a safety strap 17, the end of the safety strap preferably overlies the adjustable strap 41 and has an angle-cut end edge 17a which extends substantially normal to the length of the strap 41, thereby forming a lateral bend abutment for the strap loop 41a, 41b and aiding in the-strength of the strap connection to the body 13, particularly in the case of small belt widths and the correspondingly smallest sizes of strap loop 41a, 41b, as shown for instance in FIG. 4.

.The adjustable belt strap 41 is then pulled downward along theface of the belt-flap 31 and is suitably secured in the adjusted position. To this end, the strap 41 has formed therein a plurality of linearly'spaced holes45, which serve in conjunction with a T-nut 47 secured in an extending through the belt flap beneath slot 31, and a wide flange headed screw 49, to

enable facile locking of the strap 41 in its adjusted position. The adjustable belt strap 41 is fastened in its adjusted position by passing the screw through one of the holes 45 and threadedly securing the screw in T-nut 47, thereby anchoring the strap 41 securely against the wall of belt flap 31. It will be appreciated that with the illustrated embodiment the degree of incremental adjustment possible is a function of hole spacing, the closer the hole spacing the smaller the incremental adjustments thereby provided. If desired, the'holes may be elongated to provide for additional latitude in adjustment. It will also be appreciated that the loop adjustment increments are approximately one-half that of the hole spacings, in view of the loop formation 41a, 41b between body 13 and flap 31. This is, of course, of particular value in facilitating desired size adjustment. It will also be noted that by virtue of the relatively long length of the connecting fold 33 of belt flap 31 and the relatively close retention of the belt B along the length thereof when the strap 41 is pulled up and fastened, the belt is thereby held snugly, thereby obviating or materially reducing any substantial wobbling motion of holster 11, with only a relatively narrow adjustment strap 41. With this relatively snug loop connection the holster is also held against any substantial degree of vertical motion on the belt when the pistol is being withdrawn therefrom.

While a screw and T-nut fastener are employed in the illustrative embodiment, it will be appreciated that various other releasable fastening or locking means, such as snap fasteners, may be employed for securing the adjustable strap in a desired adjusted position. i

In the illustrative embodiment, after the adjustable strap is locked in place with screw 49 and T-nut 47, the holster body strap 35 is snapped in place around the body 13 of the holster, and the holster 11 is ready for use.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a single illustrative embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A holster arrangement comprising:

' a body forming an article-holding pocket;

said body having a belt flap formed thereon;

said flap having a transverse slot formed thereon;

a belt strap connected to said body adjacent said flap and being adapted to extend adjustably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap and said strap;

securing means for securing said strap in a selected position within and relative to said slot;

said belt flap being integral with said body and connecting therewith through a reverse bend; and

said belt strap being secured to said body adjacent and beneath said reverse bend.

2. A holster arrangement according to claim 1, said body having an entry-exit opening into said pocket, an articleretaining strap secured to said body and removably extending over said opening, and said article-retaining strap and said belt strap being conjointly secured to said body.

3. A holster arrangement according to claim 2, said articleretaining strap being secured over said belt strap, said belt strap extending downwardly away from said article-retaining strap at the connection zone therebetween with said body.

4. A holster arrangement according to claim 1, said belt flap having a body-securing strap formed thereon and releasably encompassing said body.

5. A holster arrangement, comprising:

a body having an article-holding pocket body portion;

said body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion;

said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween;

said body having a transverse slot formed therein;

a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue end adapted to extend adjustably and freely removable through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap;

securing means for securing said strap in a selected position within and relative to said slot;

the free tongue end of said belt strap extending removably through said transverse slot in said body and along the exterior of said body; and

the extended tongue portion of said belt strap exterior of said body being selectively adjustably effectively connectable to said body for effectiveloop length adjustment as a function of the relative positional connection of said strap to said body.

6. A holster arrangement according to claim 5, said belt strap having a plurality of adjustment, securing holes formed along its length, and selectively releasably hole-engaging securing means for selectively connecting said strap to said fla 7 A holster arrangement, comprising:

a body having an article-holding pocket body portion;

said body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion;

said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming a reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween;

said body having a transverse slot formed therein;

a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue and adapted to extend adjustably and freely removably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap;

securing means for securing said strap in a selected position with and relative to said slot; and

said securing means including adjustment securing means formed along the length of said belt strap and comprising a plurality of holes formed therein along its length, a threaded screw retainer mounted on said flap and a headed screw releasably extending through a selected on of said holes and into said retainer.

8. A holster arrangement comprising:

a body forming an article-holding pocket;

said body having a rear belt flap;

a strap secured to said body and having a U-bend beltcradling portion facing said flap and disposed between said flap and the rear face of said body;

said flap having a transversely extending slot through which said strap adjustably extends for adjustment of the size of the interior zone encompassed between said flap and said U-bend belt-cradling portion of said strap;

securing means for securing said strap in a selected adjusted position;

said strap extending through a reverse U-bend in passing through said slot and extending substantially flat along the exterior of said flap; and

said securing means securing said strap in substantially flat relation against said flap.

9. A holster according to claim 1:

said strap having a plurality of adjustment holes formed along its length; and

said securing means comprising a selectively releasable fastener arrangement engageable through said holes.

10. A holster according to claim 9, said fastener arrangement comprising a releasable female connector and male connector assembly, one of said connectors being secured to said flap and the other said connector disposed at a selected said hole and releasably interengaged with said one connector.

11. A holster according to claim 10:

said female connector being screw threaded and secured to said flap; and

said male connector being a headed screw complementary to said female connector and removably secured thereto through a selected one of said holes to thereby selectively adjustably secure said strap in a selected position 12. A holster arrangement comprising:

a body forming an article-holding pocket;

said body having a rear belt flap;

a strap secured to said body and having a U-bend beltcradling portion facing said flap and disposed between said flap and the rear face of said body;

said flap having a transversely extending slot through which said strap adjustably extends for adjustment of the size of the interior zone encompassed between said flap and said U-bend belt-cradling portion of said strap;

securing means for securing said strap in a selected adjusted position; and

said flap extending toward the bottom of said body, and said strap being secured at one end along one face thereof to said body and lying generally flat at the zone of connection thereto, said strap having its free end extending toward said bottom end of said body at said zone of connection to said body.

13. A holster according to claim 12, and an overlay element over said strap at said zone of connection and having a strap bend restraining and guiding edge extending transversely of said strap and disposed between the zone of connection and said bottom end of said body.

14. A holster arrangement comprising:

a body having an article-holding pocket portion;

said body pocket portion having a rear face;

said body having a rear belt flap portion forming a reversal connection with said body pocket portion and being disposed rearwardly of said body pocket portion;

a loop-forming belt-engaging strap fixed adjacent one end thereof to said body, said strap having a U-bend beltcradling portion facing the zone of reversal connection of said flap portion with said pocket portion and being disposed between said flap portion and the rear face of said body pocket portion;

said flap portion having a transversely extending slot through which the free tongue end of said strap adjustably removably extends for adjustment of the size of the interior zone encompassed between said reversal connection and said U-bend belt-cradling portion of said strap; and

securing means for securing said strap in a selected adjusted position exteriorly of said flap portion.

15. A holster arrangement, comprising:

a body having an article-holding pocket body portion;

said body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion;

said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming a reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween;

said body having a transverse slot formed therein;

a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue end adapted to extend adjustably and freely removably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap;

securing means on said body for securing said strap in a selected position within and relative to said slot;

the free tongue end of said belt strap extending removably through said transverse slot in said body and along the exterior of said body; and

the extended tongue portion of said belt strap being selectively adjustably effectively connectable to said body through said securing means for effective loop length adjustment as a function of the relative positional connection between said strap, said securing means, and said body. 1

16. A holster arrangement, comprising:

a body having an article-holding pocket body portion;

said body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion;

said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming a reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween;

said body having a transverse slot formed therein;

a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue end adapted to extend adjustably and freely removably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap;

securing means for securing said strap in a selected position with and relative to said slot;

said belt flap body portion extending downwardly and rearwardly of said pocket body portion;

the free tongue end of said belt strap extending removably through said slot and downwardly along the exterior of said belt flap body portion; and

said belt strap being selectively adjustably connectable to said belt flap portion and lying flat therealong. 

1. A holster arrangement comprising: a body forming an article-holding pocket; said body having a belt flap formed thereon; said flap having a transverse slot formed thereon; a belt strap connected to said body adjacent said flap and being adapted to extend adjustably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap and said strap; securing means for securing said strap in a selected position within and relative to said slot; said belt flap being integral with said body and connecting therewith through a reverse bend; and said belt strap being secured to said body adjacent and beneath said reverse bend.
 2. A holster arrangement according to claim 1, said body having an entry-exit opening into said pocket, an article-retaining strap secured to said body and removably extending over said opening, and said article-retaining strap and said belt strap being conjointly secured to said body.
 3. A holster arrangement according to claim 2, said article-retaining strap being secured over said belt strap, said belt strap extending downwardly away from said article-retaining strap at the connection zone therebetween with said body.
 4. A holster arrangement according to claim 1, said belt flap having a body-securing strap formed thereon and releasably encompassing said body.
 5. A holster arrangement, comprising: a body having an article-holding pocket body portion; said body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion; said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween; said body having a transverse slot formed therein; a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue end adapted to extend adjustably and freely removable through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap; securing means for securing said strap in a selected position within and relative to said slot; the free tongue end of said belt strap extending removably through said transverse slot in said body and along the exterior of said body; and the extended tongue portion of said belt strap exterior of said body being selectively adjustably effectively connectable to said body for effective loop length adjustment as a function of the relative positional connection of said strap to said body.
 6. A holster arrangement according to claim 5, said belt strap having a plurality of adjustment, securing holes formed along its length, and selectively releasably hole-engaging securing means for selectively connecting said strap to said flap.
 7. A holster arrangement, comprising: a body having an article-holding pocket body portion; SAID body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion; said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming a reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween; said body having a transverse slot formed therein; a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue and adapted to extend adjustably and freely removably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap; securing means for securing said strap in a selected position with and relative to said slot; and said securing means including adjustment securing means formed along the length of said belt strap and comprising a plurality of holes formed therein along its length, a threaded screw retainer mounted on said flap and a headed screw releasably extending through a selected on of said holes and into said retainer.
 8. A holster arrangement comprising: a body forming an article-holding pocket; said body having a rear belt flap; a strap secured to said body and having a U-bend belt-cradling portion facing said flap and disposed between said flap and the rear face of said body; said flap having a transversely extending slot through which said strap adjustably extends for adjustment of the size of the interior zone encompassed between said flap and said U-bend belt-cradling portion of said strap; securing means for securing said strap in a selected adjusted position; said strap extending through a reverse U-bend in passing through said slot and extending substantially flat along the exterior of said flap; and said securing means securing said strap in substantially flat relation against said flap.
 9. A holster according to claim 1: said strap having a plurality of adjustment holes formed along its length; and said securing means comprising a selectively releasable fastener arrangement engageable through said holes.
 10. A holster according to claim 9, said fastener arrangement comprising a releasable female connector and male connector assembly, one of said connectors being secured to said flap and the other said connector disposed at a selected said hole and releasably interengaged with said one connector.
 11. A holster according to claim 10: said female connector being screw threaded and secured to said flap; and said male connector being a headed screw complementary to said female connector and removably secured thereto through a selected one of said holes to thereby selectively adjustably secure said strap in a selected position
 12. A holster arrangement comprising: a body forming an article-holding pocket; said body having a rear belt flap; a strap secured to said body and having a U-bend belt-cradling portion facing said flap and disposed between said flap and the rear face of said body; said flap having a transversely extending slot through which said strap adjustably extends for adjustment of the size of the interior zone encompassed between said flap and said U-bend belt-cradling portion of said strap; securing means for securing said strap in a selected adjusted position; and said flap extending toward the bottom of said body, and said strap being secured at one end along one face thereof to said body and lying generally flat at the zone of connection thereto, said strap having its free end extending toward said bottom end of said body at said zone of connection to said body.
 13. A holster according to claim 12, and an overlay element over said strap at said zone of connection and having a strap bend restraining and guiding edge extending transversely of said strap and disposed between the zone of connection and said bottom end of said body.
 14. A holster arrangement comprising: a body having an article-holding pocket portion; said body pocket portion having a rear face; said body having a rear belt flap portion forming a reversal connection with saId body pocket portion and being disposed rearwardly of said body pocket portion; a loop-forming belt-engaging strap fixed adjacent one end thereof to said body, said strap having a U-bend belt-cradling portion facing the zone of reversal connection of said flap portion with said pocket portion and being disposed between said flap portion and the rear face of said body pocket portion; said flap portion having a transversely extending slot through which the free tongue end of said strap adjustably removably extends for adjustment of the size of the interior zone encompassed between said reversal connection and said U-bend belt-cradling portion of said strap; and securing means for securing said strap in a selected adjusted position exteriorly of said flap portion.
 15. A holster arrangement, comprising: a body having an article-holding pocket body portion; said body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion; said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming a reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween; said body having a transverse slot formed therein; a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue end adapted to extend adjustably and freely removably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap; securing means on said body for securing said strap in a selected position within and relative to said slot; the free tongue end of said belt strap extending removably through said transverse slot in said body and along the exterior of said body; and the extended tongue portion of said belt strap being selectively adjustably effectively connectable to said body through said securing means for effective loop length adjustment as a function of the relative positional connection between said strap, said securing means, and said body.
 16. A holster arrangement, comprising: a body having an article-holding pocket body portion; said body having a belt flap body portion connecting with said pocket body portion; said belt flap body portion and said pocket body portion forming a reverse bend at the zone of connection therebetween; said body having a transverse slot formed therein; a belt strap connected to said body and having a free tongue end adapted to extend adjustably and freely removably through said slot to form an adjustable belt channel encompassed by said flap portion and said strap; securing means for securing said strap in a selected position with and relative to said slot; said belt flap body portion extending downwardly and rearwardly of said pocket body portion; the free tongue end of said belt strap extending removably through said slot and downwardly along the exterior of said belt flap body portion; and said belt strap being selectively adjustably connectable to said belt flap portion and lying flat therealong. 